13 of MALAYSIA’S RICHEST PEOPLE’S Little-Known Facts

Lee Shin Cheng (4th richest) sought work with Dunlop Estate, an oil palm plantation company for a supervisory job at 22 years old, but was turned down. The reason given—he didn’t speak fluent English—important then because Europeans still own most of the plantations. About 20 years later, in 1989, Lee gathered enough financial might to buy up Dunlop Estate, and he described that day as the happiest in his life. Lee has two sons and four daughters, ALL were trained as lawyers.

Teh Hong Piow (5th richest) began his banking career in 1950 as a clerk in OCBC. He is an avid photographer.

Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary (7th richest) helped his mother plant and sell vegetables in the market and also sold roti canai while pursuing his primary and secondary studies.

Yeoh Tiong Lay (8th richest) completed his secondary school education at Hin Hua High School in Klang.

Vincent Tan (10th richest) worked as a bank clerk, then as an insurance agent, but his career took off when he brought the first McDonald’s restaurant to Malaysia at age 29. Despite owning golf courses, he hates golf but loves scuba diving and working out at the gym.